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MEDIA ADVISORY: PEPCO Potomac Oil Spill Update

On Sunday, January 23, at approximately 10:30 a.m., the Alexandria Fire Department responded to the PEPCO River Power Station, 1400 N. Royal St., which had reported oil in the Potomac River. The oil leak resulted from a broken PEPCO intake pipe that separated from an electric transformer, allowing oil used as a coolant to flow into the emergency containment reservoir. Some of the oil reached the river water intake area of the GenOn Energy Plant (formerly the Mirant Potomac River Generating Station) and the shore line.

PEPCO, the entity responsible for the leak and cleanup, will be working 24 hours until cleanup is complete. PEPCO is working and communicating with GenOn Energy, the United Stated Coast Guard, and the Alexandria Fire Department until the cleanup is complete. All the necessary federal and state agencies have been notified and are assisting with the spill cleanup. The incident remains under investigation, and spill amount estimates are still being calculated.
Soil sampling is taking place along with the cleanup operations. The Mount Vernon Trail path will remain open; however, PEPCO will place signs to warn pedestrians about the spill.